Trainer wants to use my horse in lessons

[TyMan]

What are your thoughts on allowing your trainer to use your horse free of charge in 2 beginner lessons a week? I’m currently boarding 2 of my horses at a well known hunter/jumper trainer’s barn in the Cleveland area and I feel she is basically forcing me to allow her to use my super well behaved, 25 yo horse in lessons. I find this frustrating because I ride at the barn 5x a week, and I ride both of my horses. The 2 days I don’t ride, I want my older horse to have off and to relax but she wants to use him in lessons.

My older horse does have navicular issues, but with proper shoeing he’s sound, so he no longer jumps and I do appreciate her allowing me to board him along with my young fancy import.

I feel she is taking advantage of me (I pay board for both horses on time, I participate in most of the rated horse shows (including spending the winter in Wellington) I pay for 3 lessons a week).

My horse means the world to me, I’ve owned him for 16 years, so I want to do what’s best for him. Would it be better health wise for him to allow her to use him in flat lessons? I worry that a beginner could bounce around on him and hurt him.

[RAyers]

I am confused. How do you think she is taking advantage of you? You pay board and, I assume you adhere to the requirements of the boarding and training contracts?

Or, is the trainer giving you some special perks per your statement, “I do appreciate her allowing me to board him,…” Is there something else you need to divulge?

Otherwise, it’s your horse! If you don’t want to let him be used, then say “no” period.

[ParadoxFarm]

I agree with RAyers. You can absolutely say no and you shouldn’t feel guilty about it. She’s is receiving her board for the horse, and that’s all that she’s entitled to.

[Willesdon]

It is your horse: you own it; it is your property. Your trainer is paid to look after it. She doesn’t own it, you do. Why is it difficult to say “No”?

[inca]

I’d politely say no. He is older and you ride him 5x per week. I would simply say you want him to have 2 days a week off and it won’t work to use him in lessons.

[Groom_amp_Taxi]

My reading between the lines infers that most of the horses boarded in the trainer’s barn probably generate income for the trainer in some way beyond their board payment, and OP’s older horse may be one of the few (maybe the only one) that does not.

It sounds like OP is keeping her horse in work and fit and doesn’t need the trainer using the horse in lessons to help with that.

Assuming the barn is full, It is possible that if OP declines to agree to trainer’s use of the horse (even in the nicest possible way), trainer may decide that the stall needs to go to a horse that adds more to her bottom line.

OP should absolutely say ‘no’ to trainer’s use of the horse if she feels that is in the horse’s and her best interests. She could also ask for a concession on the trainer’s part (x amount off the horse’s monthly board) and see what kind of reaction that gets.

[Edre]

OP, “No, this isn’t something I’m interested in doing” is a comprehensive reply for your trainer. You do not need to explain it, justify it, or excuse it.

This comes down to two separate points to me. First: You’re not getting anything out of it. It doesn’t sound like there’s any price/cost reduction for you if you permit your horse to be used in the program - so they are using your horse for free. Hard pass to begin with.

The second, and really significant, point to me: your horse is an older guy with special requirements. While I hope you’re boarding with a program that you have faith wouldn’t overwork/overuse any horse (especially the seniors) at the end of the day, we are the best curators of our horses’ standard of care. If you don’t believe he needs to be in work and want to give him days off, your decision and opinions prevail.

As others note, it could be that your horse doesn’t fit the typical sort of boarded horse in this barn. If that is the case, then you need to consider having a plan B on the backburner. If this is a barn where the trainer is used to doing training rides and lessons on every boarded horse (it could be multiple horses per client) then your old guy definitely doesn’t fit the standard and it could just be a poor fit. If this is true, then consider your options: fold and let the trainer have her way completely, try to negotiate with trainer (I would expect reduced board for use of my horse 2x a week plus I would want to be able to set limitations on work/types of riders), have a hard no and be prepared for the possibility that trainer may decide that your senior’s spot can be filled with a horse they make more money on (training rides, lessons).

[Training_Cupid]

If I were to allow my horse to be used for lessons, I would expect to be compensated. Around here it is usually around $25/lesson.

[SuzieQNutter]

No, no and no. I would move as it sounds like the horse will he used even if you say no.

[Eventer2483]

No. If there’s push back (ie if it’s the type of place that all horses have to be in a lesson program), I’d be willing to take your young fancy import elsewhere. There are other horses that beginners can take lessons on.

[TyMan]

Thanks everyone. My trainer is the type who doesn’t like people saying ‘no’ to her. She’s even wanted to use my fancy younger horse (who wasn’t cheap and who I worked hard for) in advanced Jumping lessons. My trainer doesn’t ride, so training rides are not offered at my barn. But there are very good riders who will offer a training ride for free.

The boarding contract makes it clear that the boarder must pay for at least 1 lesson a week. I do 3 lessons a week on my youngster. There are a lot of great barns in my area, so I do think I will change barns once we are allowed to go to the barn again. I just don’t like the idea of keeping my horses at separate barns (retirement barn and training barn), but I might have to.

[alternate_universe]

@TyMan

My trainer is the type who doesn’t like people saying ‘no’ to her.

You’re trainer is the type that is gunning to drive herself out of business and/or find herself in legal trouble.

Why are you tolerating this?

[joiedevie99]

Say no, and see what happens. Make it clear that no one is to ride either of your horses, so she can’t later say she was confused.

If she listens and things cool off in a month or two, everything may be fine. Give her a chance. If not, move.

[LaurieB]

That would be a hard no for me, and I would switch barns if the trainer refused to listen.

Fwiw, nobody likes people saying no to them. That doesn’t mean it shouldn’t happen. Your trainer sounds like a bully who’s learned to take advantage of you because she knows you won’t stand up to her.

[Impractical_Horsewoman]

Hard no, especially since you’re already taking lessons above and beyond what’s required in your contract.

Even if you were compensated for the use of you other horse (and it’s outrageous to offer you no compensation for a schoolmaster you ride frequently), for a horse of that age already in work, it’s not worth the risk to his soundness. Vet bills are not cheap. You obviously have done a great job keeping a 25 year-old horse sound to this point. You know this horse and his body. He will not benefit from additional work, certainly from inexperienced riders. Don’t let anyone tell you differently.

[CHT]

I am a little curious how the conversation went. Is one of her horses lame so she needs a temporary replacement? That seems odd though…is she even teaching right now? Seems like an odd thing to bring up now, unless she is considering downsizing her lesson string to save money. Regardless, it is 100% your decision, and it is not your responsibility to provide her with lesson horses. I am not sure it is something to move over though? If you don’t trust her that much, I would move both horses, not just one.

[EmilyM]

Personally, I would say no and let the chips fall where they may.

[nu5ha]

So you board 2 horses, pay full board, take 3 lessons a week, go to all the shows etc…annnnnd your trainer wants to use your horse in lessons while you get what exactly? annnnnnd she wanted to use your new young horse who you spent money to purchase and fly over ( I know its not cheap ). Does she make it a habit of using boarders horses without compensation to them or does she think oh that training for the horse? Also she thinks a 25 year old who you ride 5 days a week doesn’t need a day or so off and can cart beginners around? What if the poor guy suffers an injury then what? who’s paying the vet bill? What if someone falls off him? Sorry if that was my trainer I would really rethink because if im spending my hard earned money I want my trainer to not only look into her pocket but also into my horses wellbeing.

[2bayboys]

“No thank you, I’m not interested. Is that going to be a problem going forward?”

[mpsbarnmanager]

Uh, say no! “I’ve been thinking, Dobbin is older, and I want to preserve him as best I can, so I do not want him used in any lessons.” The end